Broncos nose tackle Ronald Fields must return to Houston on Friday for a court appearance after his arrest there last weekend.

Fields faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon after witnesses flagged down police to say they saw Fields waving a gun while in a white Mercedes, according to Houston police spokesman Victor Senties.

Senties said officers saw Fields place something on the floor of the car before exiting the vehicle, and police then discovered a pistol in front of the driver’s seat.

An NFL spokesman said Monday the league is aware of Fields’ arrest but that league officials would have no further comment.

Fields could be subject to punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. But because Fields is a first-time offender, no discipline would come until after the legal issues are resolved. Unlawful possession of a weapon is specifically mentioned as behavior that violates the policy.

Fields, 28, started all 16 games for the Broncos at nose tackle last season. He is expected to be part of their defensive-line rotation in 2010, his second year in Denver, behind free-agent signee Jamal Williams.

Preseason schedule.

The Broncos will open the preseason Sunday, Aug. 15, at Cincinnati, according to the full preseason schedule released Monday by the NFL. That exhibition game will kick off at 5 p.m. MDT and will be televised by ESPN.

Denver’s preseason home games are Saturday, Aug. 21, against Detroit (KCNC-4, 7 p.m.), and Sunday, Aug. 29, against Pittsburgh (KDVR-31, 6 p.m.). The final preseason game is at Minnesota on Thursday, Sept. 2 (KCNC-4, 6 p.m.).

CenturyLink, the telecommunications company that ended its sponsorship agreement with Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall because of his protests during the national anthem last year, said it will not terminate its agreement with current client Emmanuel Sanders.